Deaf Inclusion Team
The PATSS Deaf Inclusion (DI) Team provides support and advice for children and young people who are deaf. We use the term 'deaf' to refer to all levels of hearing loss. Where the word 'Deaf' is used it indicates someone who is culturally Deaf and who uses British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language.
Contacts details
26 West Hoe Road
PL1 3BJ
How we can help you
- We can provide advice to families and carers, early years settings, and schools (including specialist provision) about the practical and educational implications of the child's or young person's deafness and related needs.
- Practical and/or emotional support for families
- Ongoing assessment of a deaf child's functional listening
- Support the development of independence skills and the social and emotional well-being of a child or young person
- Opportunities for children and family members to understand deafness and develop ways a deaf child or young person can be included
- Environmental checks and advice on how to improve listening environments
- Practical and educational advice to families and carers, early years settings and schools (including specialist provision)
- Support for pupils, families, and schools at key times (for example, transition between schools)
- Deaf awareness training for peer groups and adults who know / meet a deaf child or young person (including wider family members)
- Training for parents and professionals
- Direct teaching to deaf children
- Guidance on accessing the curriculum (including sensory and experiential curriculum)
- Monitor progress and contribute to target or outcome setting
- Signposting to other organisations
- Access to deaf adults as positive role models to promote emotional wellbeing in deaf children and have confidence in who they are
We work closely with the following organisations and professionals:
- Paediatric Audiology Team
- School or setting-based staff
- Special educational needs coordinators (SENCo)
- Consultant Paediatricians
- Ear, Nose and Throat Consultants
- Cochlear Implant Team
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Educational Psychologists
- Physiotherapists
- Volunteers (for example, the Plymouth Deaf Children's Society)
- Parent/Family Support Advisors
- Sensory Solutions
Training offer and support
We offer training courses for parents, teachers, teaching assistants, and other professionals. For more information and a copy of our latest training calendar, contact louise.woodhead@plymouth.gov.uk
How to request advice and support support
To access our services, a Request for More Help form will need to be completed. For education settings, this usually follows a consultation between the PATSS link person assigned to the school and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator at the school.
Download and complete the Request for More Help form (PDF) [361KB]
Once completed, the Request for More Help form must be sent via email to AccessEarlyHelp@plymouth.gov.uk
It is essential that the Request for More Help form reflects the steps already taken, following a Graduated Approach to Inclusion.
We might not accept the request if there is insufficient evidence of needs and steps already taken.
Plymouth also has an Early Help and SEND Advice Line through which you can book a conversation with a Family Support Worker to talk about any worries or questions you may have.
Further reading and resources
Resources for parents and carers
- The role of the QToD
- How to encourage baby to talk: 5 tips to boost language development
- Glue ear guide for parents
- Supporting Communication with Deaf Babies and Toddlers
- NDCS Cochlear Implants: Information for families
- NDCS Pre-school options for parents | Finding a childcare provider
- NDCS Genetics and deafness | Causes of deafness
- NDCS How to fill in the DLA form | Disability Living Allowance
Resources for schools and settings
- NDCS Resources for education professionals - including deaf-friendly teaching guides
- NDCS Deaf-friendly teaching: For primary school staff
- NDCS Deaf-friendly teaching: Secondary | Documents and resources
- NDCS Recognising the signs of hearing loss | Information for professionals
- NDCS Deaf-friendly teaching: Special schools | Documents and resources
- Next steps: Supporting successful transitions into post-16 education and employment for deaf young people in England
- Scottish Sensory Centre - including BSL glossaries
Specialist Equipment
Hearing aids
- How to insert an earmold and hearing aid in a child's ear (YouTube video)
- How to retube your earmould hearing aid (YouTube video)
- How to clean an Earmould (YouTube video)
Cochlear Implants
- Nucleus 8 Sound Processor (YouTube video)
Roger Touchscreen
EduMic
Useful Links
- National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)
- Plymouth and District Deaf Children's Society
- Speech & Language | Livewell Southwest
Videos
- Evelyn's Deaf Awareness Film
- Responsive relationships build strong brains - help your child learn and grow through positive interactions
Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated. Want to create a page on the Plymouth Online Directory? Register for free and add a page; it only takes a few minutes.Is the information correct?
Plymouth uses an orange 'Local Offer icon' to show services that define themselves as suitable for children and young people with SEND. These are part of Plymouth's SEND Local Offer. We recommend that you contact the service provider to make sure the service is suitable for your child or young person.
- 0 to 1 years old
- 1 to 2 years old
- 2 to 3 years old
- 3 to 4 years old
- 4 to 5 years old
- 5 to 11 years old
- 12 to 16 years old
- 17 to 25 years old
- Hearing impairments
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